I knew there was a gap to be filled in Pittsburgh, PA. After coming here from the small town of Johnstown to attend the University of Pittsburgh, it always stayed in the back of my mind how difficult it was to find resources for my friends and myself as regards to the African-American community in the city. It was often difficult to find the black churches, hair salon, products, entertainment, etc.
I also quickly realized that to be successful, I needed to engage with the same community that I was inviting to my community website. Understanding that although TheSoulPitt.com was my business, I was a key part of that brand and in a city like Pittsburgh, they want to get to know who’s behind the scene running things. It builds trust within the community and in turn it has been a major factor in our growth.
#TIP > Sometimes offline efforts are just as important as being online. Especially if your business is community focused.
Donna Baxter Porcher is the Founder & CEO of Soul Pitt Media, a community website & print magazine based in Pittsburgh PA. This former rap artist turned tech diva helps women over 40 who feel lost online get their groove back in their business so they can truly shine!